The San Francisco Giants are surfacing in some intriguing trade chatter this offseason, and if the latest buzz is any indication, they’re not just window shopping. According to recent reports, the Giants are among the frontrunners in talks for Cardinals utilityman Brendan Donovan – and that’s not all. There’s also word that they’re kicking the tires on a potential deal for Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte.
Let’s start with Donovan. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter is coming off a season shortened by a sports hernia that limited him to 118 games, but when healthy, he’s been a model of consistency.
He owns a career slash line of .282/.361/.411, with strong plate discipline (9.1% walk rate, 13.5% strikeout rate) and the kind of versatility that front offices covet. He logged 18 games in left field last season, though his best value still comes on the infield dirt.
With an arbitration projection of $5.4 million, Donovan is a cost-controlled piece who fits snugly into a roster looking to stretch its dollars while still adding impact.
Then there’s Marte – a switch-hitter with a more dynamic offensive profile and a more complicated contract. He’ll be 32 next season and is under a deal that pays him $15 million annually, though deferrals reduce the present-day cost to around $12.3 million.
It’s a team-friendly structure for a player who’s been one of the most productive second basemen in baseball when healthy. That’s the key caveat, though: Marte’s injury history is well-documented.
He’s only topped 140 games three times in his 11-year career and has missed about 20% of Arizona’s games over the past two seasons. Still, when he’s on the field, he’s elite – posting 6.3 fWAR in 136 games in 2024 and 4.6 fWAR in 126 games this past season.
Both Donovan and Marte were All-Stars in 2025, and both bring different strengths to the table. Marte offers more thump – a rare blend of contact, power, and on-base skills – while Donovan leans more toward high-contact, high-OBP value.
Their projections reflect that difference: Marte is in the 4.5-WAR range, while Donovan sits closer to 3 WAR. Either would be a meaningful upgrade for a Giants team looking to solidify its infield and improve its offensive consistency.
The Giants’ interest in either player suggests they’re not content to run it back with their current second base group, especially with some uncertainty around Casey Schmitt’s health heading into the season. While both Donovan and Marte have logged time in the outfield, their best defensive homes are likely at second base or DH, so any acquisition would likely come with a ripple effect across the roster.
Of course, talent like this doesn’t come cheap. Marte, in particular, would command a hefty return.
It’s hard to imagine a deal getting done without top prospect Bryce Eldridge being part of the conversation. For Donovan, names like Gavin Kilen and Carson Whisenhunt have been floated as potential fits in a return package – a sign that the Cardinals are targeting high-upside, controllable talent as part of their rebuild.
This marks the second time in just a few days that the Giants have been connected to Donovan, and with the Mariners also reportedly in the mix, it’s clear that St. Louis is actively shopping him.
Whether the Giants are serious contenders or simply being used to drive up the price for other suitors remains to be seen. But it’s worth noting that San Francisco has been linked to several high-value, cost-effective players this winter – including Freddy Peralta – as they look to thread the needle between contention and financial flexibility.
For Buster Posey and the Giants’ front office, this is a pivotal offseason. Ownership wants results, but the team has shown caution when it comes to handing out top-of-market contracts. That makes players like Donovan and Marte – both All-Stars, both under team control, both capable of making an immediate impact – especially appealing.
If the Giants do pull the trigger on one of these deals, it would signal a clear intent to compete now without mortgaging the future. And if they don’t?
Well, the fact that they’re even in these conversations tells us they’re not sitting idle. They’re exploring every avenue, and that in itself is a sign of a front office that knows the pressure is on – and isn’t afraid to swing big.
